Method and arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matte burner of a suspension smelting furnace

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matte burner ( 1 ) of a suspension smelting furnace ( 2 ). The arrangement comprising a fluidization arrangement ( 3 ) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter into a dosing bin ( 4 ), and a conveyor means ( 6 ) for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter from the dosing bin ( 4 ) to the concentrate or matte burner ( 1 ) of the suspension smelting furnace ( 2 ), and a loss-in-weight controller ( 5 ) between the dosing bin ( 4 ) and the conveyor means ( 6 ). The arrangement comprises an impact cone ( 8 ) arranged below a filling valve ( 7 ) between the fluidization arrangement ( 3 ) and the dosing bin ( 4 ) for distributing fluidized fine-grained matter flowing from the fluidization arrangement ( 3 ) within the dosing bin ( 4 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for feeding fine-grained matter to aconcentrate or matte burner of a suspension smelting furnace as definedin the preamble of independent claim 1.

The invention also relates to an arrangement for feeding fine-grainedmatter to a concentrate or matte burner of a suspension smelting furnaceas defined in the preamble of independent claim 12.

The method and arrangement relates to feeding of fine-grained mattersuch as copper sulfide concentrate or copper matte and possible flux toa concentrate or matte burner of a suspension smelting furnace such as aflash smelting furnace or a direct-to-blister furnace.

Systems for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matte burnerof a suspension smelting furnace are for example presented inpublication WO 2005/067366.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an improved method and animproved arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate ormatte burner of a suspension smelting furnace.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The method for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matteburner of a suspension smelting furnace of the invention ischaracterized by the definitions of independent claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the method are defined in the dependent claims2 to 11.

The method comprises additionally a first feeding step for feedingfine-grained matter into a fluidization arrangement.

The method comprises additionally a fluidization step for producingfluidized fine-grained matter with a fluidization arrangement.

The method comprises additionally a second feeding step for feedingfluidized fine-grained matter from the fluidization arrangement into adosing bin that is located at a level below the fluidization arrangement

The method comprises additionally a third feeding step for feedingfluidized fine-grained matter from the dosing bin to a conveyor meansthat is located at a level below the dosing bin and that is incommunication with the concentrate or matte burner of the suspensionsmelting furnace for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter to theconcentrate or matte burner of the suspension smelting furnace with theconveyor means. The method includes controlling the feeding of fluidizedfine-grained matter from the dosing bin to the conveyor means by meansof a loss-in-weight controller in the third feeding step

The method comprises additionally determining the weight of thefluidized fine-grained matter in the dosing bin. The arranging step ofthe method includes preferably, but not necessarily, supporting theimpact cone at the filling valve between the fluidization arrangementand the dosing bin, preferably at a body structure of the filling valve.Supporting the impact cone from the filling valve reduces thedisturbance the filling of the dosing bin with fluidized fine-grainedmatter from the fluidization arrangement has on the loss-in-weightcontroller. This makes measuring of the weight of the fluidizedfine-grained matter with the loss-in-weight controller more accurate andeasier.

The method comprises additionally arranging an impact cone arrangedbelow the filling valve for distributing fluidized fine-grained matterflowing from the fluidization arrangement within the dosing bin. Thearrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matteburner of a suspension smelting furnace of the invention iscorrespondingly characterized by the definitions of independent claim12.

Preferred embodiments of the arrangement are defined in the dependentclaims 13 to 22.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the arranging step of themethod includes supporting the impact cone at the filling valve betweenthe fluidization arrangement and the dosing bin for example at a body ofthe filling valve. If the impact cone is supported at the filling valvebetween the fluidization arrangement and the dosing bin, the impact conecan be supported by means of a metal support structure such as a steelsupport structure that is attached to a body structure of the fillingvalve. Another option if the impact cone is supported at the fillingvalve between the fluidization arrangement and the dosing bin, is tohang the impact cone by metal wires such as steel wires or by metalchains such as steel chains at a body structure of the filling valve.

In another preferred embodiment of the method, the method includes arecording step for by recording the actual filling time for filling thedosing bin, wherein the actual filling time is the time starting fromopening of the filling valve and ending by closing the filling valve inthe second feeding step, and a comparing step for comparing the recordedthe actual filling time and a standard filling time for filling thedosing bin. In this preferred embodiment of the method of the invention,the fluidization step of the method may include increasing fluidizationof the fine-grained matter if the recorded filling time is longer thanthe standard filling time. In this preferred embodiment of the method ofthe invention, the fluidization step of the method may decreasingfluidization of the fine-grained matter if the recorded filling time isshorter than the standard filling time.

The arrangement comprises feeding means for feeding fine-grained matterinto the fluidization arrangement and a fluidization arrangement forproducing fluidized fine-grained matter and for feeding fluidizedfine-grained matter into a dosing bin that is located at a level belowthe fluidization arrangement.

In the arrangement the dosing bin is configured for feeding fluidizedfine-grained matter to a conveyor means that is located at a level belowthe dosing bin and that is in communication with the concentrate ormatte burner of the suspension smelting furnace for feeding fluidizedfine-grained matter to the concentrate or matte burner of the suspensionsmelting furnace by means of the conveyor means.

The arrangement comprises a loss-in-weight controller between the dosingbin and the conveyor means for controlling the feeding of fluidizedfine-grained matter to the conveyor means and weighting means fordetermining the weight of the fluidized fine-grained matter in thedosing bin.

The arrangement comprises an impact cone arranged below the fillingvalve for distributing fluidized fine-grained matter flowing from thefluidization arrangement within the dosing bin.

In a preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the impact cone issupported from the filling valve. Supporting the impact cone from thefilling valve reduces the disturbance the filling of the dosing bin withfluidized fine-grained matter from the fluidization arrangement has onthe loss-in-weight controller. This makes measuring of the weight of thefluidized fine-grained matter with the loss-in-weight controller moreaccurate and easier.

In another preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the impact cone maybe supported from the filling valve and the cone may be arranged belowthe half of the height of the dosing bin.

In a preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the arrangement comprisesrecording means for recording the actual filling time for filling thedosing bin, wherein the actual filling time is the time starting fromopening of the filling valve and ending by closing of the filling thevalve, and the arrangement comprises comparing means for comparing therecorded the actual filling time and a standard filling time for fillingthe dosing bin. In this preferred embodiment of the arrangement, thefluidization means of the arrangement may be configured to increasefluidization of the fine-grained matter if the recorded filling time islonger than the standard filling time. In this preferred embodiment ofthe arrangement, the fluidization means of the arrangement may beconfigured to decrease fluidization of the fine-grained matter or tocompletely quit fluidization of the fine-grained matter if the recordedfilling time is shorter than the standard filling time.

LIST OF FIGURES

In the following the invention will described in more detail byreferring to the figures, which

FIG. 1 shows a suspension smelting furnace,

FIG. 2 shows a detail view of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a detail view of another preferred embodiment of theinvention, and.

FIG. 4 shows a detail view of another preferred embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates method and to an arrangement for feedingfine-grained matter (not shown in the figures) to a concentrate or matteburner 1 of a suspension smelting furnace 2.

First the method for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate ormatte burner 1 of a suspension smelting furnace 2 and some preferredembodiments and variants of the method will be described in greaterdetail.

The method comprises feeding first step for feeding fine-grained matterinto a fluidization arrangement 3.

The method comprises a fluidization step for producing fluidizedfine-grained matter with the fluidization arrangement 3.

The method comprises additionally a second feeding step for feedingfluidized fine-grained matter from the fluidization arrangement 3 into adosing bin 4 that is located at a level below the fluidizationarrangement 3.

The method comprises additionally a third feeding step for feedingfluidized fine-grained matter from the dosing bin 4 to a conveyor means6 that is located at a level below the dosing bin 4 and that is incommunication with the concentrate or matte burner 1 of the suspensionsmelting furnace 2 for feeding fluidized fine-grained matter to theconcentrate or matte burner 1 of the suspension smelting furnace 2 withthe conveyor means 6.

The method comprises additionally controlling the feeding of fluidizedfine-grained matter from the dosing bin 4 to the conveyor means 6 bymeans of a loss-in-weight controller 5 in the third feeding step.

The third feeding step may include firstly feeding fluidizedfine-grained matter from the dosing bin 4 to a screw conveyor 12 of theconveyor means 6 and subsequently feeding fluidized fine-grained matterfrom the screw conveyor 12 of the conveyor means 6 to an air-slide means13 of the conveyor means and subsequently feeding fluidized fine-grainedmatter from the air-slide means 13 of the conveyor means to theconcentrate or matte burner 1 of the suspension smelting furnace 2.

The second feeding step comprises opening a filling valve 7 between thefluidization arrangement 3 and the dosing bin 4 when the weight of thefluidized fine-grained matter in the dosing bin 4 goes below a pre-setlow limit so as to let fluidized fine-grained matter to flow from thefluidization arrangement 3 into the dosing bin 4, and comprisessubsequently closing the filling valve 7 when the weight of thefluidized fine-grained matter in the dosing bin 4 goes above a pre-sethigh limit. The second feeding step includes weighting the fluidizedfine-grained matter in the dosing bin 4. The method may include theloss-in-weight controller 5 for determining the weight of thefine-grained matter in the dosing bin 4.

The method comprises additionally an arranging step for arranging animpact cone 8 arranged below the filling valve 7 for distributingfluidized fine-grained matter flowing from the fluidization arrangement3 into the dosing bin 4.

The arranging step of the method includes preferably, but notnecessarily, supporting the impact cone 8 at the filling valve 7 betweenthe fluidization arrangement 3 and the dosing bin 4, preferably at abody structure (not marked with a reference numeral) of the fillingvalve 7. If the impact cone 8 is supported at the filling valve 7between the fluidization arrangement 3 and the dosing bin 4, the impactcone 8 can be supported by means of a metal support structure 9 such asa steel support structure that is attached to a body structure of thefilling valve 7. Another option if the impact cone 8 is supported at thefilling valve 7 between the fluidization arrangement 3 and the dosingbin 4, is to hang the impact cone 8 by metal wires (not shown in thefigures) such as steel wires or by metal chains such as steel chains ata body structure of the filling valve 7.

The arranging step of the method includes preferably, but notnecessarily as shown in FIG. 4, supporting the impact cone 8 at thefilling valve 7 between the fluidization arrangement 3 and the dosingbin 4 and arranging the impact cone 8 below the half of the height ofthe dosing bin 4.

The method may include a recording step for by recording the actualfilling time for filling the dosing bin 4, wherein the actual fillingtime is the time starting from opening of the filling valve 7 and endingby closing the filling valve 7 in the second feeding step, and acomparing step for comparing the recorded the actual filling time and astandard filling time for filling the dosing bin 4.

If the method includes an above-described recording step and anabove-described comparing step, the fluidization step of the method mayinclude increasing fluidization of the fine-grained matter if therecorded filling time is longer than the standard filling time.

If the method includes an above-described recording step and anabove-described comparing step, the fluidization step of the method maydecreasing fluidization of the fine-grained matter if the recordedfilling time is shorter that the standard filling time.

If the method includes an above-described recording comparing step andan above-described comparing step, the comparing step of the method mayinclude using a pre-determined filling time as the average filling time.

If the method includes an above-described recording comparing step andan above-described comparing step, the comparing step of the method mayinclude using as the standard filling time an average filling timecalculated as the average filling time of several recorded actualfilling times.

Next the arrangement for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate ormatte burner 1 of a suspension smelting furnace 2 and some preferredembodiments and variants of the arrangement will be described in greaterdetail.

The arrangement comprises a fluidization arrangement 3 for producingfluidized fine-grained matter and for feeding fluidized fine-grainedmatter into a dosing bin 4 that is located at a level below thefluidization arrangement 3. The arrangement comprises feeding means forfeeding fine-grained matter into the fluidization arrangement 3.

The dosing bin 4 is configured for feeding fluidized fine-grained matterto a conveyor means 6 that is located at a level below the dosing bin 4and that is in communication with the concentrate or matte burner 1 ofthe suspension smelting furnace 2 for feeding fluidized fine-grainedmatter to the concentrate or matte burner 1 of the suspension smeltingfurnace 2 by means of the conveyor means 6.

The arrangement comprises a loss-in-weight controller 5 between thedosing bin 4 and the conveyor means 6 for controlling the feeding offluidized fine-grained matter to the conveyor means 6.

The arrangement comprises weighting means for determining the weight ofthe fluidized fine-grained matter in the dosing bin 4. Theloss-in-weight controller 5 is preferably a part of the weighting meansfor determining the weight of the fluidized fine-grained matter in thedosing bin 4 and used as a weighting means.

The conveyor means 6 may include a screw conveyor 12 that is incommunication with the dosing bin 4 and an air-slide means 13 that is incommunication with the screw conveyor 12 and that is in communicationwith the concentrate or matte burner 1 of the suspension smeltingfurnace 2.

The arrangement comprises a filling valve 7 between the fluidizationarrangement 3 and the dosing bin 4 for opening and closing thecommunication between the fluidization arrangement 3 and the dosing bin4 and wherein the filling valve 7 is configured to open valve when theweight of the fluidized fine-grained matter in the dosing bin 4 goesbelow a pre-set low limit, and by subsequently to close the fillingvalve 7 when the weight of the fluidized fine-grained matter in thedosing bin 4 goes above a pre-set high limit.

The arrangement comprises an impact cone 8 arranged below the fillingvalve 7 for distributing fluidized fine-grained matter flowing from thefluidization arrangement 3 within the dosing bin 4.

In the arrangement, the impact cone 8 may be supported from the fillingvalve 7, preferably at a body structure of the filling valve 7.

In the arrangement, the impact cone 8 may be supported from the fillingvalve 7 and the cone may be arranged below the half of the height of thedosing bin 4.

In the arrangement, the impact cone 8 may be supported from the fillingvalve 7 and the impact cone 8 may be supported by means of a metalsupport structure 9 such as a steel support structure that is attachedto a body structure of the filling valve 7.

In the arrangement, the impact cone 8 may be supported from the fillingvalve 7 and the impact cone 8 may be hanged by metal wires such as steelwires or by metal chains such as steel chains at a body structure of thefilling valve 7.

The arrangement may comprise recording means 10 for recording the actualfilling time for filling the dosing bin 4, wherein the actual fillingtime is the time starting from opening of the filling valve 7 and endingby closing of the filling valve 7, and by comparing means 11 forcomparing the recorded the actual filling time and a standard fillingtime for filling the dosing bin 4.

If the arrangement comprises such recording means 10 and such comparingmeans 11, the fluidization means of the arrangement may be configured toincrease fluidization of the fine-grained matter if the recorded fillingtime is longer than the standard filling time.

If the arrangement comprises such recording means 10 and such comparingmeans 11, the fluidization means of the arrangement may be configured todecrease fluidization of the fine-grained matter or to quit fluidizationof the fine-grained matter if the recorded filling time is shorter thatthe standard filling time.

If the arrangement comprises such recording means 10 and such comparingmeans 11, the comparing means 11 may be configured to use as thestandard filling time a pre-determined filling time.

If the arrangement comprises such recording means 10 and such comparingmeans 11, the arrangement may additionally comprise calculating meansfor calculating an average filling time of several recorded actualfilling times and the comparing means 11 may be configured to use as thestandard filling time this calculated average filling time.

It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technologyadvances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in variousways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted tothe above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.

1. A method for feeding fine-grained matter to a concentrate or matteburner of a suspension smelting furnace, wherein the method comprises afirst feeding step for feeding fine-grained matter into a fluidizationarrangement, a fluidization step for producing fluidized fine-grainedmatter with a fluidization arrangement, a second feeding step forfeeding fluidized fine-grained matter from the fluidization arrangementinto a dosing bin that is located at a level below the fluidizationarrangement, a third feeding step for feeding fluidized fine-grainedmatter from the dosing bin to a conveyor means that is located at alevel below the dosing bin and that is in communication with theconcentrate or matte burner of the suspension smelting furnace forfeeding fluidized fine-grained matter to the concentrate or matte burnerof the suspension smelting furnace with the conveyor means, controllingthe feeding of fluidized fine-grained matter from the dosing bin to theconveyor means by means of a loss-in-weight controller in the thirdfeeding step, determining the weight of the fluidized fine-grainedmatter in the dosing bin, and wherein the second feeding step comprisesopening a filling valve between the fluidization arrangement and thedosing bin when the weight of the fluidized fine-grained matter in thedosing bin goes below a pre-set low limit so as to let fluidizedfine-grained matter to flow from the fluidization arrangement into thedosing bin, and subsequently closing the filling valve when the weightof the fluidized fine-grained matter in the dosing bin goes above apre-set high limit, characterized by arranging an impact cone arrangedbelow the filling valve for distributing fluidized fine-grained matterflowing from the fluidization arrangement within the dosing bin.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1, characterized by supporting the impact coneat the filling valve, preferably at a body structure of the fillingvalve.
 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized by arrangingthe impact cone below the half of the height of the dosing bin.
 4. Themethod according to claim 3, characterized by supporting the impact coneby means of a metal support structure such as a steel support structurethat is attached to a body structure of the filling valve.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 3, characterized by hanging the impact cone by metalwires such as steel wires or by metal chains such as steel chains at abody structure of the filling valve.
 6. The method according to claim 3,characterized by a recording step for recording the actual filling timefor filling the dosing bin, wherein the actual filling time is the timestarting from opening of the filling valve and ending by closing thefilling valve in the second feeding step, and by comparing step forcomparing the recorded the actual filling time and a standard fillingtime for filling the dosing bin.
 7. The method according to claim 6,characterized by increasing fluidization of the fine-grained matter ifthe recorded filling time is longer than the standard filling time. 8.The method according to claim 6, characterized by decreasingfluidization of the fine-grained matter if the recorded filling time isshorter that the standard filling time.
 9. The method according to claim6, characterized by using a predetermined filling time as the averagefilling time.
 10. The method according to claim 6, characterized byusing as the standard filling time an average filling time calculated asthe average filling time of several recorded actual filling times. 11.The method according to claim 6, characterized by using theloss-in-weight controller for determining the weight of the fine-grainedmatter in the dosing bin.
 12. An arrangement for feeding fine-grainedmatter to a concentrate or matte burner of a suspension smeltingfurnace, wherein the arrangement comprises feeding means for feedingfine-grained matter into the fluidization arrangement, wherein thearrangement comprising a fluidization arrangement for producingfluidized fine-grained matter and for feeding fluidized fine-grainedmatter into a dosing bin that is located at a level below thefluidization arrangement, wherein the dosing bin is configured forfeeding fluidized fine-grained matter to a conveyor means that islocated at a level below the dosing bin and that is in communicationwith the concentrate or matte burner of the suspension smelting furnacefor feeding fluidized fine-grained matter to the concentrate or matteburner of the suspension smelting furnace by means of the conveyormeans, wherein the arrangement comprises a loss-in-weight controllerbetween the dosing bin and the conveyor means for controlling thefeeding of fluidized fine-grained matter to the conveyor means, whereinthe arrangement comprises weighting means for determining the weight ofthe fluidized fine-grained matter in the dosing bin, and wherein thearrangement comprises a filling valve between the fluidizationarrangement and the dosing bin for opening and closing the communicationbetween the fluidization arrangement and the dosing bin and wherein thefilling valve is configured to open valve when the weight of thefluidized fine-grained matter in the dosing bin goes below a pre-set lowlimit, and subsequently to close the filling valve when the weight ofthe fluidized fine-grained matter in the dosing bin goes above a pre-sethigh limit, characterized by the arrangement comprises an impact conearranged below the filling valve for distributing fluidized fine-grainedmatter flowing from the fluidization arrangement within the dosing bin.13. The arrangement according to claim 12, characterized by the impactcone being supported from the filling valve, preferably at a bodystructure of the filling valve.
 14. The arrangement according to claim12, characterized by arranging the impact cone below the half of theheight of the dosing bin.
 15. The arrangement according to claim 12,characterized by the impact cone being supported by means of a metalsupport structure such as a steel support structure that is attached toa body structure of the filling valve.
 16. The arrangement according toclaim 12, characterized by the impact cone being hanged by metal wiressuch as steel wires or by metal chains such as steel chains at a bodystructure of the filling valve.
 17. The arrangement according to claim12, characterized by recording means for recording the actual fillingtime for filling the dosing bin, wherein the actual filling time is thetime starting from opening of the filling valve and ending by closing ofthe filling valve, and by comparing means for comparing the recorded theactual filling time and a standard filling time for filling the dosingbin.
 18. The arrangement according to claim 17, characterized by thearrangement being configured to increase fluidization of thefine-grained matter if the recorded filling time is longer than thestandard filling time.
 19. The arrangement according to claim 17,characterized by the arrangement being configured to decreasefluidization of the fine-grained matter if the recorded filling time isshorter than the standard filling time.
 20. The arrangement according toclaim 17, characterized by the standard filling time is a pre-determinedfilling time.
 21. The arrangement according to claim 17, characterizedby calculating means for calculating an average filling time of severalrecorded actual filling times, wherein the average filing time is thestandard filling time.
 22. The arrangement according to claim 17,characterized by the loss-in-weight controller being a part of theweighting means for determining the weight of the fluidized fine-grainedmatter in the dosing bin.